Method of and apparatus for washing grain



July 20 1926. 1,593,174

R. G. HUNT METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR WASHING GRAIN Filed Oct. 5, 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 July 20 1926.

R. G. HUNT METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR WASHING GRAIN Filed Oct. 5, 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Imn7- WW5 E 221 06.

July 20 1926.

R. G. HUNT METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR W ASHING GRAIN s Sheets-Shet 5 Filed Oct @50 5 5 286 w 5? wow LM spirit of the invention.

- tion.

Patented July 20, 1926.

UNITED STATES.

PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT G. HUNT, OF ASTORIA, OREGON, ASSIGNOB TO THE WOLF COMPANY, 01 OHAMBEBSBUBG, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR WASHING GRAIN.

Applioation flled October 8, 1925. Serial Io. 60,244.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a method of and apparatus for washing grain so as to break up and remove smut balls therefrom as well as a to remove other deleterious substances therefrom. In accordance with this principal object, the invention in its mechanical aspects, comprises two washers through which the grain is passed successively, the first 1 washer being constructed and adapted to break up or loosen the smut balls and the second washer being constructed and adapted for additionally washing and securing the grain and rinsing it to completely remove all extraneous material. Further objects of the invention will be apparent from the following specification and claims. J

In the accompanying drawings, I have 11- lu'strated one embodiment of the mechanical features of the invention, the construction shown being adapted for carrying out my improved process, but it will be understood that the drawings are for illustrative purposes only and that various changes and substitutions within the scope of the claims may be made without departing from the Of the drawings: .1 Fig. 1 is a front view with certam parts 80 broken away to show the interior construc- Fig. 2 is an endview.

Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fi 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectiona view similar to Fig. 3, but showing certain details that do not appear in Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a detail view showing the shape of the opening in the nozzle shown in Fi 5. In accordance with my improved met od, the washing of the grain is carried on in two distinct ste s. In the first step the ain after having been mixed with water 1s passed through a washer wherein there is a relatively large clearance space between the cylindrical perforated casing and the rotary beater. In this primary washer there is a thick layer of grain between the casing and the heater, and the action of the beater serves to cause the grain berries to .rub against each other as they progressfrom one end of the washer to the other.

By reason of the thick la or there is a maximum of contact and re ative rubbing her and the beater-so that the grain, berries are rubbed directly against the surface of the casm with the result that they are thorough y. scoured and polished. Additional water is introduced before the grain reaches the secondary washer and also while in the secondary washer with the result that the gram is not only scoured but thoroughly rinsed so that it leaves the secondary washer in clean condition.

As illustrated in the drawings, 1 is the primary washer and 2 is the secondary washer. Preferably as shown the rimary washer is mounted on the framewor of the secondary washer, or on a separate framework so'as to be located vertically above the secondary washer. While this relative location has certain advantages, it will be understood that my invention is not necessarily so limited. As illustrated there is a framework 1 supporting the rimary washer, this framework carrying end brackets 1 and 1, which are tied together by the rods 1 extending through spacer pipes 1 The primary washer 1 comprises a perforated cylindrical shell or casing 3 which is carried by end plates or heads 4 and. 5. Extending horizontally through thecasing 3 in a shaft 6 mounted in bearings 7 and 8.

The shaft 6 carries a rotary heater 9 having spiral blades which are so inclined as to cause the grain in the washer to travel from one end to the other, inthe present instance from the right hand end to the left hand end. In accordance with the invention the clearance between the periphery of the heater 9 and the interior of the casing 3 is relatively great so as to leave room for "hick layer of grain on the interior of the Otti":

The seconda washer 2 comprises a or casing 10 which is preferably made of three parts 10, 10", and 10. Certain sections of the casing 10 are perforated and other sections are imperforate. The exact arrangements of the perforated and imperforate sections may be varied, but for purposes of illustrating the invention I have shown the section 10 perforated at the left hand side and imperforate at the right hand side. The section 10 is perforated throughout, and the section 10 is perforated over most of its surface but is imperforate at the extreme right end where discharge takes place. The several sections of the casing 10 are bolted together at flanges 11 and are carried by end housings 12 and 13.. The two housings are connected together by the rods 13 extending through pipes l3 which serve as distance spacers. A horizontal shaft 14 extends through the washer 2 and is mounted in bearings 15 and 16. A rotary beater 17 is carried by the shaft 14 and the spiral blades thereof are so inclined as to cause the grain to be advanced from one end of the washer to the other, in the present instance from the left hand end to the right hand end. The washer is so constructed that the clearance space between the periphery of the beater 17 and the interior of the easing 10 is relatively small, preferably being less than quarter of the corresponding clearance space in the primary washer 1. Suitable means, such as a drive pulley 18, is provided for rotating the shaft 14. Any suitable means may be provided for rotating the shaft 6 of the primary washer and for this purpose I have shown a pulley 19 on the shaft 14 of the secondarywasher and a pulley 20 on the shaft 6 of the primary washer, these pulleys being adapted to be connected by means of abelt (not shown).

A duct 21 is provided for supplying grain to the primary washer at one end thereof, the right hand end as illustrated. The grain after passing through the washer 1 is conducted to the secondary washer. For this purpose there is preferably provided an inclined duct such as 22. The grain is discharged from the bottom of the primary washer and is delivered to the side of the secondary washer. Preferably the duct 22 connects with a second duct 23.havin an opening 24. This opening may be use for admitting grain directly to the secondary washer in cases where the grain is free from smut and does not require the primary washer. The grain after passing through the secondary washer is discharged through the spout 25.

In order that the desired washing may take place properly in the two washers it is essential that the grain be thoroughly moistended and thoroughly mixed with the water. For this purpose I provide one or more special nozzles, all similar in construction.

As illustrated one of these nozzles is pro-1 vided at 26 to deliver water into the supply duct 21; another at 27 to deliver a e into the intermediate duct 22; and a third at 28 to deliver water directly into the secondary washer. The nozzle 27 is shown in detail in Figs. 5 and 6, and it will be understood that the nozzles 26 and 28 are the same or similar in construction. Each of the nozzles is provided with a long narrow slot 29 and the nozzles 26 and 27 are so arranged that they serve to deliver sheets of water into the respective ducts in planes extending transversely of the ducts. The nozzle 28 is located to deliver a sheet of water into the secondary Washer in a radial plane. With the arrangement of the nozzles as shown, the grain at three difi'erentplaces is caused to move through a sheet of water thus being thoroughly wetted and thoroughly mixed with the water. A system of piping 30 is provided for supplyingwater to the several nozzles, valves 31, 32 and 33 being provided for controlling the flow to the respective nozzles 26, 27 and 28.

In order to assist in the rinsing of the grain the inclined duct 22 is perforated at the bottom, as shown at 34, so as to'permit dirty water to escape without passin into the secondar washer. When the primary washer 1 an the duct 22 are located vertically above the secondary washer it is necessary to provide means for preventing the dirty water from fallin directly onto the secondary washer. For t is pu ose, I preferably provide an inclined imper orate apron 35 which is located below the primary washer and below the inclined duct and above the secondary washer.

In operation the grain is supplied through the duct 21 and passes through the sheet of water delivered by the nozzle 26. Upon entering the primary washer the rain forms a thick layer on the surface 0 the casing 3, and the inner part of this la er is engaged by the rotary heater 9 which gradually works the grain toward the discharge end of the casing causing the herries to rub against each other and thus breaking up and loosenin the smut balls. Some of the water mixe with the grain runs through the holes in the casing 3 carrying with it part of the smut. The grain is delivered from the primary washer into the duct 22 where it passes through a second sheet of water delivered by the nozzle 27. The grain is again thoroughly wetted and some of the water immediately.

flows out through the holes in the bottom of the duct and carries with it a large part of the remaining smut. The grain then passes into the secondary washer which has but a small clearance between the rotary heater and. the casing. The grain berries are rubbed against the surface of the casing 10, and the grain is also subjected to a further rinsing agtion by reason of the water introduced through the nozzle 28. After passing the nozzle 28 the grain is subjected loosen and remove smut-balls, supplying additional water to the grain, forming and bodily moving a thin layer of the grain, subjecting the moving thin layer to a mechanical abrading action at one surface thereof and to an agitating action at the other surface thereof whereby the grain berries are mechanically abraded to remove any remaining smut or other objectionable material and to effect rinsing.

2. In a grain washing apparatus, the combination of primary and secondary washers each comprising a perforated cylindrical casing and a rotary beater located therein, the clearance space between the periphery of the beater and the interior of the casing in the primary washer being much greater than the corresponding space in the secondary washer, means for supplying grain and water to the primary washer, means fordelivering the grain from the primary washer to the secondary Washer, and means for supplying additional water to the grain after leaving the primary washer.

3. In a grain washing apparatus, the combination of a primary washer comprising a perforated cylindrical casing and a rotary beater therein, a duct through which grain is supplied to the said washer, means for delivering a sheet of water into the duct in a transverse plane whereby the grain is thoroughly mixed with water, a secondary washer comprising a perforated cylindrical casing and a rotary beater therein, means whereby grain is delivered from the primary washer to the secondary washer, and means for supplying additional water to the grain between the two washers.

4. In a grain washing apparatus, the combination of a primary washer comprising a perforated cylindrical casing and a rotary beater therein, a duct through which grain is supplied to the said washer, means for,

delivering a sheet of water into thev duct in a transverse plane whereby the grain is thoroughly mixed with water, a secondary washer comprising a perforated cylindrical casin and a rotary beater therein, a duct for delivering grain from the rimary washer to the secondary washer, an means for delivering a sheet of water into the second duct in a transverse lane whereby the grain is again thorough y mixed with water. a

5. In a grain washing ap aratus, the combination of primary an secondary lindrical casin and a rotary beater located therein, the c earance space between the periphery of the beater and the interior of the casing in the primary washer being much greater than the corresponding space in the secondary washer, a duct through which water is sup lied to the primary washer, means for delivering a sheet of water transversely into the duct whereby the grain is thoroughly mixed with water,

a duct for delivering grain from the primary washer to the secondary washer, and

means for delivering a sheet of water into the second duct in a transverse plane whereby the grain is again thoroughly mixed with water.

6. In a grain washing apparatus, the

combination of a'primary was er comprising a perforated cylindrical casin and a rotary beater therein, a duct throng which grain is supplied to the said washer, means for delivering a sheet of water into the duct in a transverse plane whereby the grain is thoroughly mixed with water, a secondar Washer comprising a perforated cylindrical casing and a rotary beater therein, an inclined duct having a perforated bottom for delivering grain from the primary washer to the secondary washer, and means for delivering a sheet ofwater into the second duct in a transverse the grain is again thorough ymixed wit water.

7 In a grain washing apparatus, the combination of a primary washer comprising a. perforated cylindrical casing and-a rotary eater therein, a duct throu h which grain is supplied to the said was er, means for delivering a sheet of water into the duct in a transverse plane whereby the grain is thoroughly mixed with water, a secondarywasher comprising a perforated cylindrical casing and a rotary beater therein, a duct for delivering grain from the primary washer to the secondary washer, means for delivering a sheet .of water into the second duct in a transverse plane whereby the grain means for delivering a sheet of water into the secondary washer in a radial'plane' to effect rinsing.

8. In a grain washing apparatus, the combination of primary and secondary washers lane whereby I is again thoroughly mixed with. water, and

70 washers each comprising a) perforated cygrain from the primary washer to the secondary washer, and means additional to the grain delivering means and interposed between the rimary and secondary washers for preventm water from falling from the former onto t e latter.

9. In a grain washing apparatus, the combination of primary and secondary washers each com rising a perforated cylindrical casing an arotary eater located therein, the said primary washer bein located vertically above the secondary was er, means for supplying grain and water to the primary washer, means for delivering the grain from the primary Washer to the secondary washer including an inclined duct located above the secondary'washer, and an inclined imperforate apron additional to the grain deliv ering means and located between the primary and seconda washers for preventing water from fa lin washer onto the secon ary washer.

10. In a grain washing apparatus, the combination of primary and secondary washers each comprising a perforated cylindrical casing and a rotary beater located therein, the said primary washer being located vertically above the secondary washer, means for supplying grain and water to the primar washer, means for'delivering the grain rom the primary washer to the secondary washer including an inclined duct located above the secondary washer and havin a perforated bottom, and an inclined imper orate apron located below the pri-' mary washer and the said duct and above the secondary Washer.

; R. G. HUNT.

from the primary 

